Yield potential for late-planted corn and soybeans

Yield potential for late-planted corn and soybeans Now that the 2013 planting season has come to a close, many growers are beginning to wonder about their fields yield potential. Many of our fields this year have been planted much later than desired, and even then, they were planted in field conditions that were less than ideal. In this article, we will try and shed some light on where the yield potential lies in your field. On the corn side Corn yields do not begin to decline rapidly until planting is delayed beyond mid-may. Corn hybrids used today appear to have more yield stability over time in the early part of the season. Planting date data is notoriously variable, though some years show little loss for late May planting, while others show large losses. This only emphasizes the fact that actual yield loss from late planting is tied to conditions during the rest of the season more so than to planting date. This year, growing degree day accumulation from late April until now has been behind normal in most of the Midwest, so yield reductions due to delayed planting will likely be closely related to the limited number of growing degree days. From data compiled by Syngenta, corn grain yield was within 4 percent of the maximum (on average) when planting occurred by May 10. By comparison, average corn yields were reduced by 15 percent when planting was delayed until May 20 and by 23 percent when planting was delayed until May 30 and established stands were at optimum populations. Yield potential of corn by emerged stand and planting date A useful method for estimating a start date for corn planting is to add up the number of days expected to plant all acres plus the number of days you expect to be delayed (for weather, mechanical and/or personal reasons), then back up that many days from May 10. The date you end up with should be your target to begin corn planting. Of course, from a practical standpoint, April 15 is about the earliest that most farmers should consider planting. Source: Syngenta On the soybean side This is hardly the first year that so much of the U.S. soybean crop was delayed in planting. The percentage of late-planted soybean acreage has ranged from 9 percent in 2012 to 66 percent in 1995. There were five years in which late planting exceeded 50 percent, and all of those years were in the 1990s. Late-planted acreage accounted for 48 percent of soybeans in 1986 and 47 percent in 2011. Similarly variable during these years was the U.S. average soybean yield relative to trend value. The U.S. average yield was less than 1 bushel above trend value in 1986 and 1996, very near trend in 1990 and 1991, and about a bushel below trend in 1995 and 2011. The largest deviation from trend was the nearly 3-bushel shortfall in 1993. Yields are mostly determined by weather conditions in July and August, but unless summer weather conditions are extreme, the history of yields after late planting suggests that the average this year should be within about a bushel of the trend value of 44 bushels per acre. Soybean planting date data compiled by Syngenta show similar yield potential with delayed planting. Our results show that planting soybeans around May 20 will provide about 97 percent of a maximum theoretical yield. Delay planting any further, and yield potential drops quickly. With a June 30 planting, for example, yields are expected to be about 57 percent of the maximum theoretical yield. This decrease in yield potential through the month of June indicates that you can lose about 1 percent (or about

0.5 bushels per acre) of soybean yield potential each day that planting is delayed. Soybean Planting Date and Yield Potential To help achieve maximum yield, grow strong By Tom Hall, Crop Genetics Soybean Product Line Manager Source: Syngenta Integrating a combination of industry experts, products, innovation, service and support, Syngenta created an easy-to-follow management approach that divides successful soybean production into three distinct phases to help farmers grow more soybeans: Start Strong, Grow Strong and Yield Strong. In this article, we ll focus on the Grow Strong phase, which centers on the vegetative cycle of the soybean plant. Grow Strong is about building the photosynthetic factory and getting it prepared for the flowering/ reproductive/pod-filling stages. The photosynthetic factory needs to be efficient in storage of nutrients to maintain adequate plant and root structure which means the plant needs to avoid pest threats from leaf defoliation, root tunneling from nematodes, pests that may intercept critical light (a.k.a., weed competition) and nutrient deficiencies. For soybeans to grow strong, they must manage pest threats to the powerful soybean factory. This is the last opportunity to eliminate the threats before the all-encompassing pod-fill process. How do you begin to maximize plant growth? You have to manage weeds. To be successful in doing so for the entire season, the use of a pre-emergence herbicide that provides residual control is a critical first step. The use of pre-emergence herbicides: Reduces weeds that compete for nutrients and water. Allows for timely in-crop applications. Contributes to resistance management, often providing a second mode of action. Controls both grass and broadleaf weeds. Offers residual weed control for up to five weeks. Stops early-season weed competition and protects yield potential. How does delayed weed control affect the bottom line? In 2003, University of Nebraska researchers found that in 30-inch rows, a herbicide application delayed until the V3 or V5 stages reduced yields by 10 percent or 17 percent, respectively. The yield reduction was only somewhat less severe in 15-inch rows: 7 percent at V3 and 12.5 percent at V5. Do you have any weed resistance management recommendations? View weed management as the goal not just weed control. Do not rely solely on post-emergence herbicides. Always use a full rate for both pre- and post-emergence herbicides. Apply post-emergence herbicides at the proper timing with recommended spray adjuvants. Use multiple modes of action with overlapping activity and residual control. What about volunteer corn? Volunteer corn competes for nutrients and moisture and ultimately can reduce yield:

Impact of volunteer corn on soybean yields 6.5 bu/a yield loss 11 bu/a yield loss 17 bu/a yield loss 0.5 plants/m 2 2 plants/m 2 4 plants/m 2 Photo Source: Purdue University 1 m 2 = 10.8 ft 2. Trials conducted by Dr. W. Johnson and P. Marquardt, Purdue University. Data are averages of two sites from both 2008 and 2009. The sites were Throckmorton Purdue Ag Center and Pinney Purdue Ag Center. Volunteer corn was collected in 2007 and 2008 and hand-planting in 2008 and 2009 to obtain the desired densities. Fusilade DX herbicide offers superior control of glyphosate-tolerant volunteer corn. Should I be worried about insects at this time? Most insect-related yield loss occurs during the reproductive stage, but proactive scouting should occur during the vegetative stage. Yield loss occurring during this stage is caused by: Defoliating insects that destroy leaf tissue and slow plant growth. Sucking pests that remove vital plant juices needed for plant growth. Keep an eye out for pests including bean leaf beetles, lepidopteran pests, thrips, Japanese beetles, alfalfa hoppers, cucumber beetles and Mexican bean beetles How do you track nutrient levels? The vegetative stage of the soybean plant is an ideal time to scout and double check nutrient levels in your fields. With the use of soil testing (typically pulled in the fall) or leaf tissue sampling in the spring/early summer, a nutrient picture can be presented. Micronutrient needs as well as ph, potassium and phosphorus levels can be analyzed. Micronutrient deficiencies such as boron (B), copper (CU), iron (Fe), manganese (MN), molybdenum (MO) and zinc (Zn) can be corrected. New foliar nutrient applications are available through your local fertilizer company. Foliar nutrients combined with post-emergence herbicide treatments can be applied effectively and efficiently at this time of the growing season. A strong choice for strong soybean yield Planting was significantly delayed across many areas of the Midwest this year due to wet conditions and cool temperatures late into the spring. This directly impacted a multitude of soybean factors, from soil fertility and weed growth to early-season disease presence and insect pressure. The latter has entomologists and growers diligently scouting their fields. Delayed planting means delayed soybean development, pushing back the timeline of soybean maturity. However, insect pest populations are quickly establishing themselves in soybeans as their lifecycles haven t been as affected or delayed by weather. This favors increased potential for foliar insect damage during the soybean reproductive growth stages the period most critical for yield management from insect pests. Minimizing losses at this late stage in the season can reduce unnecessary harvest losses so plants can yield strong. One soybean pest with an early presence in fields this year is the soybean aphid. As aphids begin the move from their overwintering host crop (buckthorn) to soybean fields, recently emerged plants will experience an increased risk of damage and defoliation from the pests. If current weather conditions persist, soybean aphid establishment and reproduction may coincide with the soybean reproductive stages, amplifying the damage the pests can cause.

Japanese beetles and bean leaf beetles have also begun to emerge in soybean fields. Fields that were planted first this season may act as a trap crop for the bean leaf beetles, providing this season s first generation with the immediate energy source needed to establish themselves in soybean fields. This year, parts of the Midwest are also seeing localized damage from the brown marmorated stinkbug. To deter damage and control flourishing insect pest populations, you can utilize Endigo ZC insecticide to provide fast-acting and long-lasting control of these and many other soybean yield robbers, including corn earworm, stinkbugs and grasshoppers. Endigo ZC offers effective knockdown and residual control of economically damaging pests and can be used to control newly emerging pest populations throughout the U.S. With no action thresholds for treating multiple insect pests, you can work with your Syngenta representatives to determine when to treat your fields. Endigo ZC is an excellent fit for insect resistance management because it delivers three industry-leading technologies with two highly effective active ingredients, helping soybeans to yield strong at harvest. Endigo ZC also acts as a convenient tank-mix partner with Quilt Xcel and Quadris Top SB fungicides, a combination proven to enhance yields and provide growers consistent returns. By choosing the best management practices and products, you are better able to grow more soybeans. Minimize in-season stress with new online tool With so many stresses at work in fields this season, it is important to understand the solutions that can minimize their toll. For this reason, Syngenta has introduced an online training module to teach corn, soybean and cereal growers how to manage plant stresses with Quilt Xcel fungicide. The new mobile- and tablet-friendly online tool launched on July 8, 2013. The module is a 15-minute interactive tutorial that demonstrates the benefits Quilt Xcel provides on corn, soybean and cereal crops. A short quiz follows to test participants knowledge on the content and the first 500 participants who complete the quiz will receive a $25 gift card to Bass Pro Shops. The training module teaches how Quilt Xcel improves water use by slowing water loss from the plant, strengthens stalks to prevent lodging and causes an increase in grain or pod fill for plants. Additionally, it outlines the fungicide s dual modes of action for disease control, as well as the convenience and application flexibility benefits that corn, soybean and cereal growers receive with Quilt Xcel. It s important for growers to recognize what is happening in the field and to understand how applications of Quilt Xcel can help shield plants against in-season stresses. This online tutorial doesn t just talk about benefits it actually shows how they work. For more information, please visit www.quiltxcel.com. If you are seeking information about Syngenta seed brands, including hybrid and variety selections best suited to your area, and crop protection products, contact your sales representative or agronomist or visit www.syngentaseeds.com and www.farmassist.com. Product performance assumes disease presence. UNSUBSCRIBE: To unsubscribe from this email list, please reply to sender and request to be removed from future email messages. 2013 Syngenta, 410 Swing Road, Greensboro, NC 27409. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some crop protection products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. AAtrex 4L, AAtrex Nine-O, Agri-Flex, Agri-Mek 0.15EC, Agri-Mek SC, Avicta 500FS, Avicta Duo Corn, Avicta Duo 250 Corn, Avicta Duo Cotton, Avicta Complete Corn 250, Avicta Complete Corn 500, Avicta Duo 500 Corn, Besiege, Bicep II Magnum, Bicep II Magnum FC, Bicep Lite II Magnum, Callisto Xtra, Clinch, Curacon 8E, Cyclone Star, Denim, Endigo ZC, Epi-Mek 0.15EC, Expert, Force 3G, Force CS, Gramoxone Inteon, Gramoxone SL, Gramoxone SL 2.0, Karate with Zeon Technology, Karate EC, Lexar, Lexar EZ, Lumax, Lumax EZ, Proclaim, Voliam Xpress, Warrior II with Zeon Technology and Warrior with Zeon Technology are Restricted Use Pesticides. Not all traits or trait stacks referenced herein are approved for sale or use in the United States. These traits and trait stacks are not being offered for sale. Actara, Agri-Mek, Agri-Mek 0.15EC, Besiege, Centric, Centric 40WG, Curacron, Curacron 8E, Denim, Durivo, Endigo ZC, Karate with Zeon Technology, Karate EC, Platinum, Platinum 75SG, Proclaim, Voliam Flexi, Voliam Xpress, Warrior with Zeon Technology, and Warrior II with Zeon Technology are highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or to residues on blooming crops and weeds. Do not apply these products or allow them to drift onto blooming plants if bees are foraging in the treated area.

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